Depresh Mode with John Moe

Chris Walla on Quitting, Norway, Alcohol, Perfectionism, and Terrible Music Teachers

Jan 30, 2023

55:48

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Highlights

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Episode notes

How Did You Find Your Way to Death Cabra Cute?

02:15

I Don't Have Cravings for Cigarettes but I Still Struggle With It

03:16

Death Cab for Kewdie - Why Did You Leave?

01:52

Introduction

2min

What Are You Doing in Norway?

4min

Is There a Transatlantic Move?

2min

You Know, I'm a Teenager and I've Always Been a Teenager, but I'll Never Give Up.

2min

How Did You Find Your Identity Through Music?

3min

Are You a Kid With Depression and Anxiety?

3min

How Did You Find Your Way to Death Cabra Cute?

2min

Death Cab

3min

Death Cab - What Is It Like to Be a Rock Star?

2min

10.

Playing in a Rock Band

3min

11.

Chris Walla and the Judge John Hodgman Podcast

2min

12.

Is Imposter Syndrome a Clinical Diagnosis?

2min

13.

I've Been in Therapy for a Long Time.

2min

14.

Death Cab for Kewdie - Why Did You Leave?

2min

15.

Is There a Killer Case to Be Made for That?

2min

16.

Podcast Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

2min

17.

Death Cab v. Cute - The Work of My Adult Life

3min

18.

The Language of Sobriety

2min

19.

I Don't Have Cravings for Cigarettes but I Still Struggle With It

3min

20.

The Imposter Syndrome

3min

21.

I'm a Black Metal Record Producer and I've Got a Baby and I Want to Stay Here

5min

22.

Depression Mode - What Works for You?

5min

Chris Walla’s life today is very different from where it has been in the past. The musician and producer isn’t in the Pacific Northwest, for instance, where he grew up and lived for many years. He’s in Trondheim, Norway, where he is putting down roots and continues to compose and produce. And while that happens, Death Cab for Cutie, the band he co-founded in the 1990s, is in the midst of a 71-stop international tour.

In this interview, Chris talks about music instructors and academic experiences that didn’t quite kill his love of making music. He weighs the thrill of playing music with his friends to the painful drudgery of touring and the experience of losing connection with the songs. And he details his struggles with depression, alcohol, and, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the nagging feeling that people don’t really want to hear what he makes.

Learn more about Chris Walla and his Seattle recording studio by visiting HallOfJusticeRecording.com. Listen to Chris Walla's music on the streaming service of your choice. Follow Chris on Twitter @calculizer.

Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.

Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!

Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.

Help is available right away.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.

International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

The Depresh Mode newsletter is available twice a week. Subscribe for free and stay up to date on the show and mental health issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/

John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression

Find the show on Twitter @depreshpod and Instagram @depreshpod.

John is on Twitter @johnmoe.

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